our growth offer and ask of government · the growth oer page 12 05 our approach and ask of...

Our Growth Offer and Ask of Government

MARCH 2013

To Kickstart and Unleash Local Dynamism and Economic Potential

Northamptonshire‘Most Enterprising Place in Britain’

Winner of two top awards in the Enterprising Britain Competition 2012

Most Enterprising Place in BritainPromoting Export

In his report ‘No stone unturned in pursuit of growth’, commissioned by Government, Lord Heseltine gave strong support for the localism agenda calling on the Government to unleash the dynamic potential of local economies.

Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) and Northamptonshire County Council strongly support the overall direction of Lord Heseltine’s proposals. Our two organisations also welcome the Chancellor’s announcement in his Autumn Statement that the Government agrees with Lord Heseltine that local leaders and businesses are best placed to set the strategic direction for an area and that in response it will devolve a greater proportion of growth-related spending to local areas from April 2015.

We support the focus of Lord Heseltine’s proposals on empowering local places by letting them take the initiative to generate local growth, in partnership with central government, ensuring that the incentives and structures of local places are organised in such a way as to secure the greatest possible economic contribution, with each area able to play to its natural strengths. We also strongly support the devolution of power and funding to local areas to unleash the local growth that is critical to national economic recovery.

Lord Heseltine places much emphasis on LEPs. We agree that this is correct and LEPs have a key role to play in helping shape priorities and leading on business/enterprise initiatives. However, in devolving powers and funding to local areas, we consider that it is essential to recognise the crucial importance of the role of the strategic local authority and the need for local democratic accountability.

We believe that this strategic alliance between the LEP and the local authority is the best way forward.

Indeed, in Northamptonshire we have shown how an integrated partnership between the LEP and the strategic local authority can successfully provide the leadership required to drive sustainable growth and job creation. This has been recognised by Northamptonshire being named the Most Enterprising Place in Britain and our track-record.

We believe that Government should recognise the continuing ability of the strategic local authority to provide expertise to LEPs, including in coordinating the management of local infrastructure funds and longer-term investment programmes, which can in turn maximise leverage from the private sector, and help to align additional capital spending on digital networks, roads, education, skills etc., to stimulate growth.

One of Lord Heseltine’s headline recommendations is for local areas to prepare a ‘strategic plan’ to provide the basis for leading and driving local growth. This ‘10 Point Plan’ represents Northamptonshire’s strategic plan. We believe it sets out an ambitious and deliverable agenda for growth, and the foundations for devolving powers and responsibility from Whitehall, including a ‘single capital pot’ as advocated by Lord Heseltine.

We look forward to working with Government to deliver this agenda and ‘unleash the potential’ Northamptonshire o�ers.

Northamptonshire’s ‘10 Point Plan’ MARCH 2013

Jim HarkerLeader of Northamptonshire County Council

Paul SouthworthChairman of Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership

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d01 Introduction PAGE 6

02 Why Northamptonshire?PAGE 8

03 Business-led and Business-focused PAGE 10

04 The Growth O�er PAGE 12

05 Our Approach and Ask of Government PAGE 14

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The Northamptonshire ‘10 Point Plan’ PAGE 18

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Our aim is to ensure that the residents of Northamptonshire are given every opportunity to contribute to and benefit from economic prosperity.

Northamptonshire is ready and able to help Britain in the ‘global race’. Our growth proposition and strategic plan to Government is based on very clear indicators of what we can achieve, why we believe we can achieve this, and how our success will benefit the local, regional and national economies. It aligns with the ambitions and priorities of Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP); the local enterprise partnership (LEP) for the county. It is also based on and informed by, a robust set of Plans: the Northamptonshire Arc Prosperity Plan and development proposals identified in Core Spatial Strategies prepared by the borough and district councils and Joint Planning Units. Our proposition is also informed by discussions with and evidence provided by, the Federation of Small Businesses, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors. This means that it has strong support and buy-in from a wide range of interests.

Government is already playing a part in creating the foundations for this growth through its support for the electrification of the Midland Main Line, which will benefit Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, and funding for the Castle Station redevelopment in Northampton. This commitment is very welcome and it is already helping to boost investment confidence.

Our vision is that Northamptonshire will continue to build on the success stories of the past few years and place itself firmly on the national and international business map. We want to be the place of choice for ambitious small and medium-sized businesses looking to grow in an innovative and supportive environment. Also, for multinational companies looking to build their businesses in the UK and people wanting to settle and contribute to national economic prosperity.

The 10 key themes of our strategic plan are:

- Housing growth- Digital economy- Innovation- High performance technology- Logistics and distribution- Public sector land and buildings- International investment and trade- Energy efficiency- Civic infrastructure- Skills and employment Through this plan we want to help create 70,000 new jobs here in

Northamptonshire over the next 15 years and provide the infrastructure which could potentially release over 80,000 new homes.

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Northamptonshire is the largest single growth area outside London and has one of the fastest growing populations in England with a current population of about 700,000.

We are well located, at the crossroads of the national road and rail network and with strong international links: five international airports within 1.5 hours drive, three hours to the Port of Liverpool and Haven Ports, mainland Europe accessible in two hours via Eurostar. We have excellent road connections with the rest of the UK, including London, Birmingham and Manchester, via the M1, M6, M40 and A14 and direct access to the Midland Main Line, the West Coast Main Line and the Chiltern Line, as well as being home to the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal which links Britain to mainland Europe.

We are at the heart of Europe’s largest concentration of logistics and distributions operations: the ‘Golden Triangle’, with a significant concentration of skills and knowledge in the freight and logistics sectors existing in the area. We are keen to develop this competitive advantage further and create an additional 5,000 logistics jobs locally by 2020.

We have a vibrant and diverse economy, combining tradition in the luxury shoemaking industry with innovation in the world-leading High Performance Technology (HPT) sector. The HPT network comprises of more than 1,000 companies employing over 21,000 people and contributing £2 billion to the local economy, centred on Silverstone Circuit – the home of motorsport. Our ambition is to double the number of jobs in this sector and quadruple contribution to GVA.

Throughout the recession, the county has managed an impressive turnaround, bucking national trends in export performance, growth in the food and drink industry and business survival rates. For example, while national figures show a recent 3% decline in the food and drink sector, Northamptonshire has recorded a rise of 5%.

This view is backed-up by a recent report by the Centre for Cities think-tank which has shown that Northampton has made the biggest recovery from the recession in the country. Reflecting this Northampton moved from a 61/63 rank to a 7/63 in four years. Reasons for this included organic growth, an increase in business start-ups, and a higher business survival rate than the England average. The county has proved it can hold its own in difficult economic conditions, in part due to a package of initiatives designed to support small businesses.

Our rates of unemployment and people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the county are lower than the regional and national averages.

Northamptonshire benefits from excellent access to higher education with The University of Northampton recognised as England’s top University for Employability in 2012, and the world-renowned universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Warwick all less than an hour away.

Northamptonshire also boasts a significant heritage and attractive environment, including the Nene Valley which is an ideal visitor destination, within easy access. There is a wide range of attractive housing stock available, with average house prices well below the national average. Coupled with this are vibrant towns and picturesque villages.

This means it offers an excellent quality of life at levels affordable to many, making it attractive to families and to a diverse range of people willing to move to improve their life, providing a work-ready workforce now and in the future.

Finally and importantly, Northamptonshire delivers. This was acknowledged by Government within the county winning the accolade the ‘Most Enterprising Place in Britain’ for its pioneering work with Silverstone Circuit which helped to secure the future of the British Grand Prix and safeguard jobs in the wider High Performance Technologies network. It also won the top award for encouraging export.

The county town of Northampton has recently been recognised as one of the top locations in the UK for business by Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking’s UK Town and City Index, citing it’s ‘diverse local business base and low business costs’ as a key factor. Their ranking placed it above Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

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With Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP), we have a strong and e�ective LEP which works closely with surrounding areas and that is delivering against a number of target areas, with over 1,200 jobs created or safeguarded since its establishment. The NEP Board provides strong leadership, with active membership of both business leaders and democratically accountable public sector representatives. It is geared up to make di�cult decisions. NEP has a business plan in place which sets out immediate targets and activities. It is also one of the few LEPs to have set up a European O�ce which is building trade links in Europe. This means that it is well-placed to play a key role in managing EU funding programmes post-2014.

While 99% of our businesses are small and medium enterprises, we are also the location of choice for world-renowned companies:

Digital access is a key enabler and central to our plans and business competitiveness. Through the Superfast Northamptonshire project, we have the ambition to be the first area in England with full Next Generation Access by 2017 – three years ahead of European targets. This has the potential to create an extra 1,500 jobs in rural Northamptonshire in the next four years.

The new Superfast Business initiative will help businesses utilise and commercialise the opportunities provided by new technologies and applications and ensure that we are at the forefront of the digital economy.

When combined with our successful package of initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (INV-ENT, LOCATE and ‘Think Small First’ SME-focused approach), we will continue to develop our competitive advantage and be the location of choice for ambitious and growing businesses and new start-ups.

Furthermore, with its superb infrastructure and access to harbours, Northamptonshire is positioning itself as a very viable alternative to London and the South East for domestic (private and public sector) and international companies looking to relocate or expand.

Recognising the fact that our proportion of people employed in higher level occupations is lower than the national average, we are working in partnership with local businesses to create a viable and future-proof educational o�ering to our young people, through The University of Northampton, our technical and business colleges, and two university technology colleges (UTCs) opening in 2013.

This, coupled with strengthening links with surrounding universities and research centres, will ensure that the skills and education portfolio for the county is geared towards economic growth and industry diversification.

Through the Superfast Northamptonshire project, we have the ambition to be thefirst area in England with full Next Generation Access by 2017 – three years ahead of European targets.

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Northamptonshire’s economy is already growing fast. It contributes over £14bn to the national economy; on a par with its neighbours Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire. Current projections indicate that its contribution will rise to £20bn by 2020, but we are ambitious and we want to exceed this target ... and more importantly we can. Some of the key reasons for this growth potential are:

- Northamptonshire already has one of the fastest rates of population growth in Britain and this is forecast to continue. This is being driven by an influx of younger people and higher birth rates

- Northamptonshire has an immediate pipeline of more than 35,000 new houses with planning permission

- Associated infrastructure to facilitate growth has been identified and is ready to go

- Emerging core spatial strategies have identified the potential to boost this figure to over 80,000 new houses

- The potential has already been agreed to create 70,000 new jobs over the next 15 years

- There is a shared commitment between business and local authorities to support growth

This o�er of leadership and deliverability, coupled with the scale of new

jobs and housing, and longer-term potential, is unparalleled anywhere else in Britain outside of London. We know we have a growing county and with the right interventions and support of Government we can deliver accelerated and sustained economic growth.

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70,000 new jobs and £20bn plus

economy

Contributing factors Access to EU and export

opportunities

Business start-ups and sustainability

Inward Investment

Target high growth sectors

Clear education and training pathways leading to high

quality jobs

Strong local business networks and markets

Investment in digital and other infrastructure

Targeted and tailored support for SMEs and large businesses

High quality of life

Low operating costs

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Kick-starthousing growth

Contributing factors More than 35,000 houses with

planning permission

Public sector land available

Infrastructure ready-to-go

Joint plans well-advanced or in place

Funding ‘gaps’ and mechanisms identified

Potential for more than 80,000 houses

Strong and proactiveleadership

A young and growing population

High environmentalquality

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Discussions with British Gas illustrate that we share similar goals on issues such as fuel poverty and the environment and that we can help each other tackle these by sharing expertise, ideas and resources and working in a di�erent way.

Northamptonshire’s approach to delivering growth is unique to other city deals. It is based on a Strategic Plan (the Northamptonshire ‘10 point plan’) for growth, similar to that advocated by Lord Heseltine in his report ‘No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth’.

Key components of the plan include the establishment of a revolving infrastructure fund to release housing growth and create new jobs, investment in digital networks, support for innovation, enterprise and international trade targeted at SMEs and key sectors. Also proactive use of public sector assets and buildings to facilitate growth and a range of measures to tackle unemployment and increase skills which will reduce dependency on benefits, and boost GVA and the local economy.

Integral to the delivery of the plan is close working between NEP, the wider business community, the University, colleges, the county council, borough and district councils, and other stakeholders.

Running through each component of the ’10 point plan’ is a new approach to delivering local growth based on commissioning and innovative ‘strategic alliances’. This is not a traditional public sector approach to commissioning, but instead focused on shared outcomes and targets with a range of new partners which share the same mind-sets, customers and agendas. A flavour of these strategic alliances is provided below.

Discussions with British Gas illustrate that we share similar goals on issues such as fuel poverty and the environment and that we can help each other tackle these by sharing expertise, ideas and resources and working in a di�erent way to add-value.

Recent exploratory discussions with O2 (Telefonica) have highlighted synergies on goals on new mobile technologies and their applications to help businesses grow and people access advice and other services. This again has highlighted opportunities for added-value.

The area of Britain centred on Northamptonshire, and extending into Leicestershire and Warwickshire, is known by business as the ‘Golden Triangle’ for international and domestic logistics operations. This is because it is home to the largest single concentration of major distribution facilities anywhere in Europe. The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s busiest container port and one of the largest in Europe. It handles over 3.4m containers a year. The Golden Triangle and Felixstowe and the wider networks and supply chains, which connect them to suppliers and markets, are vital to the functioning of the national economy, European and global trade, and future economic growth prospects. The county council together with Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership has met with the Port of Felixstowe to discuss how they can work together, with others, to support the future success of these economic assets and create new jobs.

Productive discussions are also taking place with the Churches Conservation Trust which could lead in the creation of a Heritage Gateway and unique cultural o�er in the county.

Some strategic alliances are much more advanced. The county council has operationally developed a new strategic integrated partnership with MGWSP covering highways and transport. This long-term partnership involves the provision of corporate services, consultancy and operational delivery and has a turnover value of over £300m over eight years. It brings together the design, engineering and management consultancy strengths of WSP, with the support and construction services provider strengths of May Gurney, and the local expertise and asset base of the county council. This ensures significant capacity is available to deliver capital programmes to budget and time.

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A prime example of a strategic alliance is the county council’s innovative work with Silverstone Circuit. With a £30m investment in the pit and paddock facilities required if Silverstone was to retain the Grand Prix, the county council stepped in with a £10m secured loan and a further £1.5m joint venture investment over five years. The loan enabled the Circuit to secure the remainder of the funding from financial institutions. Without this intervention there was a real risk that Silverstone and Britain would lose the event. This would have had a dramatic impact on the motorsport sector and jobs. As a result of the investment Silverstone has retained the Grand Prix until 2027. It also marked the foundations for a strong relationship with shared ambitions in terms of support for the high performance technology sector and job creation through the early implementation of the Silverstone Circuit Master-plan. Key deliverables include the impressive Silverstone Wing which was opened in 2011, a new University Technical College (due to open in 2013), an advanced technology park, three hotels, and a ‘motor city’ complex. Altogether, the Master-plan has the potential to create over 4,000 new jobs.

We are convinced that this approach will deliver transformational results and change.

This strategic ‘10 Point Plan’ illustrates that Northamptonshire has the ambition, ingredients and credentials needed to deliver economic growth.

Furthermore, we can deliver and have delivered. We have shown how an integrated partnership and innovative approach, led by the LEP and the county council, working closely with the University, local colleges, borough and district councils and others, but most importantly the local business community, can provide leadership and drive and make the di�cult decisions e.g. investing in the Silverstone Master-Plan, NEP and a programme of economic support, when making unprecedented cuts in public services.

In this Plan, we commit to continue with a progressive approach to stimulate growth and invest in the local economy. This includes proposals to establish a £100m plus Revolving Infrastructure Fund, investment in digital networks, expanding current plans for University Technical Colleges and skills provision, utilising public assets, and continuing our innovative business rebate scheme (INV-ENT) which provides funding for SMEs.

In return, the Plan asks that the county is given more say on other decisions and funding programmes a�ecting it, including how European Funding is targeted and managed post-2014 and work to address youth and long-term unemployment. It also calls for a greater proportion of growth-related spending to be devolved from Whitehall to Northamptonshire through a ‘Single Capital Pot’ to enable us to align and accelerate our capital spending programmes and other plans.

We believe that through the implementation of this Plan and the agenda it lays out, and in partnership with Government, we could open up opportunities for immediate new jobs and homes (with over 35,000 homes already in the pipeline with consents) and the medium-term facilitate 70,000 jobs.

We urge you to read our ‘10 Point Plan’ and work with us to help to deliver this potential as a vanguard for implementing Lord Heseltine’s proposals.

The county council is at an advanced stage of formalising a strategic alliance with BT to help to deliver its ambitions for full Next Generation Access coverage by 2017. The first phase of this work will see more than 50,000 premises, including 3,000 businesses, able to access superfast broadband by 2015. The partnership with BT is much more than about new infrastructure, it is about delivering choice, improving access, health benefits, and helping to support businesses to set up and grow and create new jobs.

This new approach to commissioning also provides a blueprint for new public sector partnerships and work with social enterprises and other partners at the local level. One example of this is an alliance between the county council and Adrenaline Alley, a pioneering social enterprise with over 50 partners - and providing the biggest urban sports park in the UK, which will help young people with skills and advice and back into employment. A second example is an alliance with Electric Corby to help realise its goal of becoming the UK’s practical test centre for energy e�cient living and low carbon vehicles. A third example is a potential alliance between the ‘blue light’ services to deliver savings and other gains, including service improvements.

Due to demographic pressures created by a growing and ageing population, the county council is looking to establish a strategic partnership with key players in the private and voluntary sectors to meet the challenges of delivering innovative high quality social and health care services. Apart from meeting customer needs the initiative is also designed to provide substantial commercial opportunities for local businesses.

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HOUSING GROWTH£100+ million Northamptonshire Revolving Investment Fund

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire is creating a £100m plus Revolving Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to unlock major developments creating new homes and jobs through up-front funding of major infrastructure. The RIF is being established by Northamptonshire County Council working closely with Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, the borough and district councils, and the new Local Transport Body. A unique aspect of this approach is the county council front-finding design and implementation costs. It is willing to do this and take on a long-term view of investment where there is a su�ciently sound business case. Pivotal to this is a supportive local planning authority willing to align and share development-related funding streams to help repay upfront investment. The first three schemes which are being progressed, are:

£36m Daventry Development Link

£20m Northampton to Kettering Development Link (Phase 1)

£17.9m gateway bridge unlocking the Stanton Cross development at Wellingborough

These schemes will initially unlock 10,000 homes and 15,000 jobs, with a potential £4bn return to the national economy. Separate work is being advanced to agree and fund the infrastructure need to release the Kettering East development which could contribute a further £1.2bn to the economy. Activity is also underway to unlock development at other growth towns across Northamptonshire.

Ask of Government

Government support for the Northamptonshire RIF and its innovative approach

Ability to align and incorporate devolved major transport scheme funding with the Northamptonshire RIF to add-value and enable more development to be released

Greater certainty on education capital funding to enable larger schemes to be delivered and provide better value for money

Government to enable the concept of a ‘Single Capital Pot’ to provide added value and minimise need for additional bureaucracy, costs and delays through aligning with existing governance and accountable body activities

Government support for strategic infrastructure to unlock the Kettering East and Stanton Cross developments

DIGITAL ECONOMYSuperfast Northamptonshire

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire has an ambition to be the first area in England with full Next Generation Access (NGA) coverage. It aims to deliver this by 2017 – three years ahead of European targets.

The new Superfast Business initiative will help businesses utilise and commercialise the opportunities provided by new technologies and applications and ensure that we are at the forefront of the digital economy.

This will deliver massive economic and other benefits. In the rural areas alone, there will be an estimated uplift in annual GVA of £110m and 1,500 new jobs created in the next four years.

Superfast Northamptonshire is being led by Northamptonshire County Council, in partnership with BT and other telecommunications suppliers, and a cross-sector Project Board.

Ask of Government

Government to fast-track the additional £300m which has been earmarked for superfast broadband to extend and accelerate coverage

Government to enable Northamptonshire to access funding, such as the ‘super-connected cities’ fund, to enhance coverage and speeds in Northampton, the Waterside Enterprise Zone and the other key urban centres of Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. This will help meet the Government’s pledge for superfast broadband in the Enterprise Zones

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INNOVATIONINV-ENT LOCATE Think small first

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire is a leading location for innovation and enterprise. This has been recognised by Government with Northamptonshire being named ‘The Most Enterprising Place in Britain’.

It is developing a comprehensive support package, including access to finance through its successful INV-ENT Fund which supports ambitious local businesses to grow, and a network of innovation centres to provide the ideal environment for growth. It is also bringing forward new and successful initiatives – such as the Enterprise Hubs in libraries – to help support start-up and established companies from the earliest stages of advancement, and opening-up new markets for local SMEs and social enterprises through new and innovative approaches to procurement.

This support package is being developed by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and local business leaders with funding and other support from the county council. Helping each local SME to create one additional job by 2020 would create an additional 25,000 jobs.

This work is already paying dividends. Via INV-ENT, the county council has so far invested £550k in 39 SMEs. This will create 190 jobs and 65 apprentices and result in private sector leverage of over £7m within two years.

Ask of Government

Government to enable 75% of the uplift in tax receipts generated by INV-ENT to be retained locally for reinvestment in innovation and business growth

HIGH PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGYHPT 1000

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire is located at the heart of the UK’s world-leading High Performance Technologies (HPT) sector. The HPT network includes about 1,000 businesses which specialise in the design and manufacture of innovative technologies, engines and products. The sector contributes £2bn to the economy and employs 21,000 people.

Led by sector companies and other experts, Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership is designing and delivering a package of business support intended to directly stimulate the growth and development of the HPT network in Northamptonshire. This includes support through the county council and others for a new university technical college and advanced technology park at Silverstone Circuit, and opportunities available in the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone and elsewhere across the county for businesses to locate and grow.

Northamptonshire’s ambition is to double employment in the HPT sector to 40,000 by 2020.

Ask of Government

A strategic alliance with the Technology Strategy Board to support innovation and growth in the High Performance Technology sector and build on the recent £1.2 Regional Growth Fund Award

Ability to capture, manage and target EU funding to support the HPT sector and complement existing activities and initiatives

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LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION‘Golden Triangle’ growth driver

Approach and Impact

The ‘Golden Triangle’ is a concept used to describe the largest concentration of major logistics and distribution operations in Europe. Much of this activity is clustered in the ‘Triangle’ formed by the M1/M6, A14 and A43/A45. In Northamptonshire alone 40,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in this sector.

The ‘Golden Triangle’ and ports, such as Felixstowe and the wider networks and supply chains, which connect them to suppliers and markets, are vital to the functioning of the national economy, international trade and future economic growth prospects.

Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and Northamptonshire County Council are working to form a strategic alliance within the logistics sector, Freight Transport Association, the Port of Felixstowe and operators to support innovation and growth in the logistics sector, reduce congestion and create new jobs.

The target is to create an additional 5,000 logistics jobs locally in the sector by 2020.

Ask of Government

Government to fast-track planned improvements to the network and identify further upgrades to address bottlenecks on the strategic networks

Government support to improve the A14 TEN-T route

Government support for growth of the logistics sector and investment in new technologies

PUBLIC SECTOR LAND AND BUILDINGSProject Angel

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire is being increasingly proactive in the way in which public sector land holdings and buildings are being used. The goal is to reduce costs to the public sector through consolidation of assets and modernisation and enable new jobs and homes to be created.

A specific example is the £43m investment in Project Angel (due for completion by 2016). This includes a new headquarters building for the county council and will act as a catalyst for further regeneration and private sector investment in the central and waterside areas of Northampton. This is part of a wider programme of activity and the Northampton Alive initiative. The county council estimates that Project Angel will save it £54m in future running costs and bring £12m into the town centre.

This is just one example and other advanced discussions are taking place with developers to bring forward vacant sites across Northamptonshire, which are currently in public ownership, for new housing and jobs and exploring di�erent delivery models.

Ask of Government

Government to explore the potential to relocate departments/agencies from London to Northamptonshire, less than an hour from the centre of London and Birmingham

Government support for a closer ‘blue light’ partnership and the location of back-o¢ce sta� in the new Project Angel

Ability to incorporate Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and other assets as part of a wider asset utilisation and exploitation programme

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INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT AND TRADEEuropean Investment Team

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire has made a firm commitment to attract more international investment and help businesses export. Building on its recent success in winning the Enterprising Britain Award for ‘Encouraging Export’, we work with local businesses to unlock overseas markets. Other activities to support export and inward investment include the county council’s funding for a dedicated European Investment team based in Brussels, and Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership appointing a network of agents to work closely with UKTI to source leads in north America, mainland Europe and India.

Activities planned for 2013 include developing an Investment Prospectus and Operational Programme for EU funding post-2014.

Northamptonshire is well-placed to deliver on the next round of EU funding. We believe that by aligning the Common Support Framework to our existing programme of investment activity would allow future EU funding to take a place-based development and functional economic approach. This would enable tailored funding interventions to address local targets and needs.

Ask of Government

The ability for Northamptonshire (NUTS 2 area) to develop and manage a local operational programme for EU funding post-2014 to ensure that it reflects local priorities, supports growth and avoids the creation of unnecessary bureaucracy and additional structures

Strengthen and deepen working relationship with UKTI and, through them, ensure that embassy and consulate-based individuals in target markets overseas understand about the key investment sector opportunities in Northamptonshire, and also ensure that Northamptonshire is contributing strongly to the national approach to attracting business investment and supporting growth in the economy

ENERGY EFFICIENCYLow-carbon Northamptonshire

Approach and Impact

With a number of initiatives already in place, such as the i-Con at Daventry which provides an ideal home for businesses involved in green technologies and sustainable construction, Northamptonshire aspires to become the leading location in Britain for low-carbon technologies. This will help to cut-costs for businesses, create new jobs and improve the environment. A package of new measures is being developed and delivered covering skills, advice and infrastructure to boost current initiatives and help establish Northamptonshire’s credentials.

These include: A new University Technical College in Daventry (opening in 2013), with business backing, focused on environmental technologies

Advice for local businesses on how they can save energy and reduce costs

Electric Corby

Kettering Eco-Park

Investigations on setting up a Energy Services Company (ESCo)

Ask of Government

Government support for Northamptonshire to be a practical ‘test-bed’ for energy e¢cient living, eco-energy, low carbon vehicles and fiscal and other incentives to promote energy e¢ciency and low-carbon approaches

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CIVIC INFRASTRUCTUREFit for growth

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire is determined to deliver ‘world class’ infrastructure to facilitate and sustain economic growth and deliver economic wellbeing to all sectors of our local community.

This includes the provision of high-quality education facilities – from primary schools through to post-18, attractive civic and recreational spaces, world-class medical facilities, modern rail and road networks (including a new bus interchange and rail station in Northampton) which utilise the latest technologies, and the availability of digital infrastructure, information and services.

Central to this goal and growth plans are ambitious regeneration plans for many of our town centres, including Northampton, Corby, Daventry, Kettering, Rushden, Towcester and Wellingborough. Work delivering these plans is already underway with various exciting developments in the pipeline.

Ask of Government

Government engagement to progress the concept of a world-class medical facility in Northamptonshire

Government backing, through franchise and timetable reviews, Midland Main Line Electrification, new track, and post-HS2 plans, for the ‘Northamptonshire fast-rail’ agenda

Government and Network Rail support for investment in stations including plans for the new station at Northampton and wider redevelopment to create new jobs

A shared approach with the Highways Agency to the strategic network, including the A14 TEN-T link, to agree, design, programme and deliver improvements to unlock growth

Government support to enable school capacity to be increased to accomodate future growth

SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENTAspiring Northamptonshire

Approach and Impact

Northamptonshire aspires to help people succeed and fulfil their potential. This means developing the right skills to deliver a dynamic work-ready workforce. Specific targets, activities and initiatives include:

strengthening links between business and education, including through academies and continued support for Apprenticeships

creating an expanded countywide network of University Technical Colleges

a new centre for the University of Northampton in the heart of the town

strategic alliances with external institutions and research bodies to support innovation and growth in key sectors, including HPT, logistics and food and drink

improving school performance

investment in social enterprises, including Adrenaline Alley

a new Centre of Excellence for engineering and technology

One of the main goals is to reduce youth unemployment and the number of people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). Pivital to this is our job brokerage services and Challenge 2016 (which seeks to get 2,016 young people into jobs and apprenticeships by 2016).

Ask of Government

Government to enable a greater say on local issues and devolved funding on skills through the Northamptonshire Skills Board

Government to consider schemes which provide an National Insurance rebate in return for skills investment

Clearer lines of reporting and local accountability for the Work Programme and other initiatives run by the Department of Work & Pensions and Job Centre Plus

Increased support through sector skills bodies to support innovation and growth of key sectors, including HPT, logistics and food and drink

Backing for a new Centre of Excellence for engineering and technology and further UTCs

Tony CiaburroDirector for Environment, Development and TransportNorthamptonshire County Council

[email protected]

Helen MillerHead of Economic DevelopmentNorthamptonshire Enterprise Partnership

[email protected]


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